life expectancy by stage

My father was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  I just found out today.  I am just starting learn about the disease.  I am wondering what the life expectancy is for stages I, II, and III.  I do not know yet what stage he has.  He also has heart problems, so a bone marrow transplant is not currently an option.  An help would be greatly appreciated.

Cancer prognosis is a notoriously inexact process. This is because the predictions are based on the experience of large groups of patients suffering from cancers at various stages. Using this information to predict the future of an individual patient is always imperfect and often flawed, but it is the only method available. The five-year survival rates for multiple myeloma based on stage are as follows: stage I=50%, stage II=40%, stage III=10-25%

 

I am not sure where those statistics came from on the other reply but I will tell you that the pognosis has more to do with age, other complications then the cancer itself.  For example if the kidneys have not yet been effected this is very good news.  Many patients including my husband who is 45 have to go on dialysis and this complicates everything including treatment.  They have some great new drugs that they have had very good results with pulling myeloma under control.  I would imagine that they are going to put your dad on a Revlimid, steroid combination.  I really would not look at statistics for your guide..  Statistically, my husband should not even have this cancer so you cant really go by numbers. 

Best of Luck to you.

 

On 7/6/2007 Kelbrisamryan1313 wrote:

My father was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  I just found out today.  I am just starting learn about the disease.  I am wondering what the life expectancy is for stages I, II, and III.  I do not know yet what stage he has.  He also has heart problems, so a bone marrow transplant is not currently an option.  An help would be greatly appreciated.

My father was diagnosed in July 06. He passed away July 12 this month. He was 69 years old at the time and according to his labs, the kidneys were in great shape. They told us in the beginning that if it was caught early, life expectancy was 3-5 years. They guessed he had probably had it a couple of years and was in stage III. Read all you can but from what I have learned it really depends on the ugly complications that rear their head and the ability to control them. Ogilvey Syndrome brought on renal failure for my Dad. Try your best to make precious memories right now. My Dad was at the beach three weeks ago with our family deep sea fishing and eating anything he could get his hands on like everyone else. Was like he wasn't even ill. PM me if you like. God Bless You.

I am sure you know that there is no cure for MM. My father was diagnosed in April with early stage II, he died within three months. He had always been very healthy and active and was 75 year old.